Discovery and exploration, American

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Vilhjalmur Stefansson for his letter and thanks him for what he has done to get Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon the recognition he deserves. Roosevelt writes that he himself does not belong in the “explorers class,” but he was glad to have the opportunity to explore and put a new river on the map. Roosevelt also wishes Stefansson well with his project with the musk ox and discusses the status of several flora and fauna throughout the world.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-03-23

Theodore Roosevelt and Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon pose with a recent kill during the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1913-1914

Ray W. Lingk compares observations on the location of the “Brasseau Houses” near the Yellowstone River. He is planning a trip to Flat Top Butte with Historian Chester L. Brooks.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1955-04-19

Ray W. Lingk describes his efforts to find a camp set up during General Sully’s expedition in the North Dakota Badlands.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1956-10-14

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates the work of the Royal Geographical Society and John Scott Keltie on the maps from the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition. The work of Dr. Lauro Muller and Colonel Rondon deserved to be recognized by the leading geographical magazine and society. Confidentially, the Brazilian preparations for the trip were poor and Roosevelt believes Kermit Roosevelt and Anthony Fiala could have organized a better, faster, and more comfortable journey. He blames many of the problems on the Latin American desire for “splendor,” such as Rondon’s refusal to walk, which would not be in “splendid style,” and free up space for more supplies on pack animals. The lack of supplies forced the expedition to use half rations after reaching the river. Roosevelt did not make information like this public as his companions were “fine fellows” and the trip could not have been completed without them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-25

Theodore Roosevelt informs Burt M. McConnell that he has no knowledge of Arctic exploration and should have someone else act in the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-22

President Roosevelt congratulates Commander Peary on securing financial backing for his expedition from Zenas Crane.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-22

President Roosevelt asks Dr. Gilman and the Carnegie Institute to support Robert E. Peary and back his next Polar expedition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-18

President Roosevelt believes that Robert Peary has done valuable work as an Arctic explorer and supports giving him a leave of absence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-28

James Andrew Drain is glad that Theodore Roosevelt escaped from the “perils of the Brazilian jungle.” He hopes to discuss South America with Roosevelt soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-06-27

Brief historical synopsis of the history of exploration and military activity on the North Dakota plains near what is now known as Devils Lake and Sullys Hill. The hill got its name from General Alfred Sully, who camped on the shores of Devils Lake in 1865.

Collection

White Horse Hill

Creation Date

Unknown

Five book reviews on six different books comprise this edition of the “Book Notes” column. In his review, Richard H. Collins focuses on Kathleen Dalton’s contribution to Robert J. Brugger’s Our Selves/Our Past, Psychological Approaches to American History. Dalton embraces a psychohistory approach to understanding Theodore Roosevelt, emphasizing his commitment to overcoming his childhood asthma and living the strenuous life. Collins argues that this approach is misguided and ignores Roosevelt’s class and his formidable intellect. Patrick C. Gable commends John Morton Blum for his appraisal of Roosevelt in The Progressive Presidents, but he faults him for blaming Roosevelt for the misdeeds and excesses of his Democratic successors.

Peter R. Fischer finds Charles C. Goetsch’s Essays on Simeon E. Baldwin “a worthwhile collection,” but he thinks the confrontation between Roosevelt and Baldwin over a federal labor law may not merit the importance that Goetsch assigns it. Elizabeth E. Roosevelt praises Mary Helen Dohan’s Mr. Roosevelt’s Steamboat for its depictions of life along the Mississippi River and for not overlooking the contributions of Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt to her husband’s success. Dennis Wood reviews Paul Schullery’s The Grand Canyon and Old Yellowstone Days. Theodore Roosevelt has an essay in each of these collections of writings about iconic American landscapes.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Color postcard of the steamship Roosevelt, built for Robert E. Peary’s 1905 and 1908 Arctic explorations. The ship was named for Theodore Roosevelt, who had been very supportive of Peary’s expeditions.

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1907-1914

Postcard with black and white photograph of the Roosevelt, a ship built for Robert E. Peary’s 1905 and 1908 Arctic explorations, alongside a glacier near Cape York, Greenland, August 1906. The ship was named for Theodore Roosevelt, who had been very supportive of Peary’s expeditions.

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1907-1914

Postcard featuring black and white illustration of John Smith and President Roosevelt shaking hands. Behind them, a Jamestown scene transitions from 1807 to 1907. At the bottom of the postcard is printed “De-e-lighted! Welcome to the Jamestown Exposition.”

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1907

Promotional postcard for the Jamestown Exposition, 1907. Postcard features color illustrations of the Virginia state flag, American flag, Captain John Smith’s arrival at Jamestown, and President’s Roosevelt’s portrait on an American shield. The words “Meet me at the Jamestown Exposition I will be there” surround the shield.

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1906

Promotional postcard for the Jamestown Exposition, 1907. Postcard features a color illustration of the landing of John Smith and three round, black, and white portraits of President Roosevelt, Henry St. George Tucker, President of the Exposition Company, and Fitzhugh Lee, late President of the Exposition Company. It is indicated that Roosevelt will open the Exposition on April 26, 1907.

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1906

Theodore Roosevelt submitted two articles to Charles Scribner’s Sons and is awaiting the photographs from William Beebe. He enjoyed Beebe’s Kaburi Trail stories. Roosevelt met with William Hornaday but was unable to see Madison Grant or Henry Fairfield Osborn. He re-encloses a note from Mr. Fuller and is unsure which book Fuller is referring to.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-03

Theodore Roosevelt introduces Langdon Warner, a first class archeologist and friend. Warner is seeking permits to explore and excavate near the headwaters of the Yenisei River and in Mongolia. Roosevelt vouches for Warner’s abilities and previous work. He requests that his letter be placed before the proper authorities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-12

Theodore Roosevelt was relieved that the report of R. J. Cuninghame’s death was false. He has been reluctant to write due to the terrible tragedy of the war, through which he feels totally out of sympathy with the actions of the Wilson administration. Roosevelt completed a trip down an unknown South American river, the River of Doubt, earlier in 1914. There was not much shooting and he became very sick but made it through. Kermit Roosevelt has married and works at a bank in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby are running a hospital in Paris, France.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-28